Multicompartment thermoplastic bag

Abstract

A multicompartment reclosable thermoplastic bag having at least two compartments is disclosed. Each compartment has a top, a bottom, side edges, and two opposing sidewalls joined at the side edges and the bottom. Each compartment has a closure across the top thereof, which are arranged back-to-back and aligned such that the center points of each closure are less than ½ inch (1.27 cm) away from each other. The compartments are attached together proximate the tops of the compartments, and the bottoms of the compartments are free from being attached to each other. A process for making the bag is also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A multicompartment reclosable thermoplastic bag comprising: 
       at least two compartments, each compartment having a top, a bottom edge, two opposing side edges, and inner and outer sidewalls joined at the side edges and the bottom edge, each side wall having a top edge and a closure across each top edge, the closures being arranged back-to-back, the closures being aligned such that the center points of the closures are less than ½ inch (1.27 cm) away from each other,  
       wherein the compartments are attached together at the top edges of the inner sidewalls of each compartment with a fold, the fold not extending beyond the top edges of the sidewalls, the compartments being further attached with adhesive disposed proximate the top edges of the inner sidewalls of each compartment the bottom edges of the compartments being unattached.  
     
     
       2. The bag of claim  1 , wherein the compartments are attached together proximate to the tops by a folded section of plastic film, an adhesive, a heat seal, an ultrasonic seal, an extruded lamination, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       3. The bag of claim  1 , wherein the closure on at least one of the compartments is a plastic zipper. 
     
     
       4. The bag of claim  1 , wherein the closure on at least one of the compartments is an adhesive closure. 
     
     
       5. The bag of claim  1 , wherein the closures on at least two adjacent compartments are plastic zippers. 
     
     
       6. The bag of claim  1 , wherein the size of the compartments varies. 
     
     
       7. The bag of claim  1 , wherein the thicknesses of the sidewalls varies. 
     
     
       8. The bag of claim  1 , wherein at least one sidewall of a compartment contains microperforations. 
     
     
       9. A multicompartment reclosable thermoplastic bag comprising: 
       at least two compartments, each compartment having a top, a bottom edge, two opposing side edges, and two opposing sidewalls joined at the side edges and the bottom edge, each compartment having a closure across the top thereof the closures being arranged back-to-back, the closures being aligned such that the center points of each closure are less than ½ inch (1.27 cm) away from each other,  
       wherein the compartments are attached together proximate the tops of the compartments, and the bottom edges of the compartments are free from being attached to each other, wherein the closures on at least two adjacent compartments are plastic zippers, and wherein the opening force for one plastic zipper is greater than the opening force for the other plastic zipper.  
     
     
       10. A multicompartment reclosable thermoplastic bag comprising: 
       at least two compartments, each compartment having a top, a bottom edge, two opposing side edges, and two opposing sidewalls joined at the side edges and the bottom edge, each compartment having a closure across the top thereof, the closures being arranged back-to-back, the closures being aligned such that the center points of each closure are less than ½ inch (1.27 cm) away from each other,  
       wherein the compartments are attached together proximate the tops of the compartments, the bottom edges of the compartments are free from being attached to each other, the closures on at least two adjacent compartments are plastic zippers, and two profiles of the plastic zippers are aligned back-to-back on a double-sided zipper tape.  
     
     
       11. A reclosable thermoplastic bag, comprising: 
       a first compartment;  
       a second compartment;  
       a first closure operatively associated with the first compartment;  
       a second closure operatively associated with the second compartment, the first and second closures being independently operable to open and close the first and second compartments independently, the first and second closures being simultaneously, the first and second closures including a double-sided zipper tape.  
     
     
       12. The reclosable thermoplastic bag of claim  11 , wherein the first closure includes a mating rib and groove provided near an opening of the first compartment, the second closure includes a mating rib and groove provided near an opening of the second compartment, and the mechanism includes the mating ribs and grooves and sidewalls forming the first and second compartments. 
     
     
       13. The reclosable thermoplastic bag of claim  11 , wherein the first and second closures are operable to substantially seal the first and second compartments, respectively. 
     
     
       14. A method of using a reclosable thermoplastic bag having first and second compartments, comprising the steps of: 
       simultaneously closing the first and second compartments; and  
       opening one of the first and second compartments while leaving the other of the first and second compartments closed; and  
       opening the other of the first and second compartments, the first opening step requiring greater force than the second opening step.